CAGAYAN de Oro City — Cagayan de Oro received a Gold Award under the highly urbanized city category of the 2026 Gawad Kalasag, recognizing the city’s disaster risk reduction and management programs.

The Office of Civil Defense Region 10 cited the city’s compliance with standards for the operation of its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and LDRRM Office.

The assessment covers disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, response, and other requirements under Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

The law requires local governments to establish disaster risk reduction and management structures and strengthen their capacity to prepare for and respond to hazards.

For Cagayan de Oro residents, the recognition concerns systems that come into play during disasters—from early preparedness and coordination to emergency response and protection of lives and property.

The Gold Award was given to the city under the highly urbanized category for Northern Mindanao.

The recognition comes as local governments continue to face risks from flooding, landslides, severe weather and other hazards that can disrupt communities and threaten lives and property.